Education carrell for instruction and testing environments

ABSTRACT

An education carrel for instruction and testing environments. The carrel includes a non-transparent first panel, a second non-transparent panel, a first-and-second panel retention member, a non-transparent privacy panel, and a non-transparent privacy panel retention member which detachably engages the aforementioned components.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

None.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

The present disclosure provides an education carrel for instruction andtesting environments. More particularly, the disclosure provides aneducational carrel which may, during instruction, be used to provideseparate workspaces and, during testing, to provide privacy to thetest-taker while providing the opportunity for monitoring by the testproctor, accomplished by an educational carrel with a rear panel whichprovides an unobstructed view during instruction and which includes aprivacy panel for which during testing which blocks the forward view ofthe test-taker while affording the ability to monitor to thetest-taker's work surface to the monitoring test proctor.

2. Description of the Related Art

Educational carrels are well known. Whether incorporating a table ordesigned to sit atop a work surface, educational carrels include twonon-transparent side walls and a non-transparent rear wall affixed toone another to provide a semi-enclosed area where the student may workwithout external distraction. These may be found in library environmentsfor studying and may be found in classroom environments, for focusedwork or for test-taking. The use of carrels has been extended to providestudents from physically interacting with one another, providing ameasure of separateness, to encourage focus.

While useful, these carrels cannot be easily deployed in a classroomsetting due to the non-transparent nature of the rear panel as studentscannot see the instructor nor can the instructor easily see the studentsabsent a raised dais for the instructor, which provides only limitedbenefit. As a result, portable carrels are often deployed only fortesting conditions, requiring storage, consuming time for deployment,and creating a distracting in the testing area.

Alternatively, eliminating the rear panel eliminates the desires privacyin a test-taking environmental. Additionally, during testing conditions,the test proctor can observe test-takers only from the rear or fromabove, which reduces the effectiveness of the proctor.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure therefore, overcomes one or more deficiencies inthe prior art by providing an education carrel for instruction andtesting environments. The present disclosure provides for an educationalcarrel which may, during instruction, be used to provide separateworkspaces and, during testing, to provide privacy to the test-takerwhile providing the opportunity for monitoring by the test proctor,accomplished by an educational carrel with a rear panel which providesan unobstructed view during instruction and which includes a privacypanel for which during testing which blocks the forward view of thetest-taker while affording the ability to monitor to the test-taker'swork surface to the monitoring test proctor.

The disclosure includes a carrel for education purposes, comprising: i)a non-transparent first panel, said non-transparent first panel havingfirst panel height, first panel depth, and a first panel rear edge; ii)a non-transparent second panel, said non-transparent second panel havingsecond panel height, second panel depth, and a second panel rear edgesaid second panel height equivalent to said first panel height; saidsecond panel depth equivalent to said first panel depth; iii) afirst-and-second panel retention member, said first-and-second panelretention member affixed substantially perpendicular to saidnon-transparent first panel near said first panel rear edge, said firstpanel extending forwardly from said first-and-second panel retentionmember, said first-and-second panel retention member affixedsubstantially perpendicular to said non-transparent second panel nearsaid second panel rear edge, said second panel extending forwardly fromsaid first-and-second panel retention member, said first-and-secondpanel retention member separating said non-transparent first panel andsaid non-transparent second panel by a separation width; iv) anon-transparent privacy panel, said non-transparent privacy panel havinga non-transparent privacy panel width and a non-transparent privacypanel height said non-transparent privacy panel width equivalent to saidseparation width. said non-transparent privacy panel height no more than⅔ said first panel height and no less than ½ said first panel height;and v) a privacy panel retention member, said privacy panel retentionmember affixed to said non-transparent privacy panel or to saidfirst-and-second panel retention member or to said first panel and saidsecond panel and providing detachable attachment of said non-transparentprivacy panel to said first-and-second panel retention member or to saidfirst panel and said second panel or to said non-transparent privacypanel.

The foregoing and other objectives, features and advantages of thedisclosure will be more readily understood upon consideration of thefollowing detailed description of the disclosure, taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

So that the manner in which the described features, advantages andobjects of the disclosure, as well as others which will become apparent,are attained and can be understood in detail, more particulardescription of the disclosure briefly summarized above may be had byreference to the embodiments thereof that are illustrated in thedrawings, which drawings form a part of this specification. It is to benoted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only a typicalpreferred embodiment of the disclosure and are therefore not to beconsidered limiting of its scope as the disclosure may admit to otherequally effective embodiments.

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of one embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 2 illustrates a view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 from below.

FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of another embodiment of thepresent disclosure with a different first-and-second panel retentionmember 1300.

FIG. 4 illustrates a view of the embodiment of FIG. 3 from below.

FIG. 5 illustrates another embodiment of the first-and-second panelretention member 1300 incorporating a non-transparent privacy panelretention member 1500.

FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective view of another embodiment of thepresent disclosure with incorporating a table.

FIG. 7 illustrates a perspective view of another embodiment of thepresent disclosure with incorporating a table.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring first to FIGS. 1 and 2, an embodiment of the presentdisclosure is provided as viewed in perspective and from below,respectively. The educational carrel 1000 includes a non-transparentfirst panel 1100, a non-transparent second panel 1200, afirst-and-second panel retention member 1300, a non-transparent privacypanel 1400, and a non-transparent privacy panel retention member 1500which detachably engages the first panel 1100 and the second panel 1200or the first-and-second panel retention member 1300 or thenon-transparent privacy panel 1400.

In one embodiment, the non-transparent first panel 1100 includes a firstpanel front side 1102, a first panel rear side 1104, a first panelinterior side 1106, a first panel exterior side 1108, a first panel topside 1110, and a first panel bottom side 1112, a first panel depth 1140,and has a first panel height 1114. Similarly, the non-transparent secondpanel 1200 includes a second panel second side 1202, a second panel rearside 1204, a second panel interior side 1206, a second panel exteriorside 1208, a second panel top side 1210, a second panel depth 1240 and asecond panel bottom side 1212 and has a second panel height 1214. Thefirst panel 1100 and the second panel 1200 are equivalent in dimensionsand may be translucent or opaque as desired, and are bothnon-transparent.

A first-and-second panel retention member 1300 maintains the first panel1100 and the second panel 1200 in relation to one another. Thefirst-and-second panel retention member 1300 may be any structuralmember which maintains the first panel 1100 and the second panel 1200 inposition, such as, for example, the open framework, such as depicted inFIGS. 1 and 2, a transparent panel, such as depicted in FIGS. 3 and 4 orin FIG. 5, or FIG. 6, or a bracket as depicted in FIG. 7, or acollection of members. Additionally, a work surface panel may beprovided to which the first panel bottom side 1112 and the second panelbottom side 1212 may be affixed to provide further rigidity andstructure.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, where the first-and-second panel retentionmember 1300 is a transparent third panel, it further includes afirst-and-second panel retention member interior side 1306, afirst-and-second panel retention member exterior side 1308, afirst-and-second panel retention member top side 1310, afirst-and-second panel retention member bottom side 1312, afirst-and-second panel retention member first side 1316 and afirst-and-second panel retention member second side 1318 and has afirst-and-second panel retention member height 1314 and afirst-and-second panel retention member width 1320. The first-and-secondpanel retention member 1300 is joined or affixed at or near thefirst-and-second panel retention member first end 1316 to the firstpanel 1100 at near first panel rear side 1104 so that thefirst-and-second panel retention member 1300 and the first panel 1100are substantially perpendicular to one another at an end of each panel.This may be accomplished by nails, screws, bolts, or any otherattachment known in the art. Similarly, the first-and-second panelretention member 1300 is joined or affixed at or near thefirst-and-second panel retention member first end 1316 to the secondpanel 1200 at near second panel rear side 1204 so that thefirst-and-second panel retention member 1300 and the second panel 1200are substantially perpendicular to one another at an end of each panel,and so that the first panel 1100 and the second panel 1200 are paralleland extend forwardly from the rear panel 1300. The first panel top side1110, the second panel top side 1210 and the third panel top side 1310are generally aligned and co-planar. The first-and-second panelretention member 1300, however, in addition to being transparent, neednot have a third panel height 1314 equivalent to that of first panelheight 1114 and second panel height 1214 and so may not extend to meetthe first panel bottom side 1112 and/or the second panel bottom side1212. In such a case, the shorter first-and-second panel retentionmember height 1314 of the first-and-second panel retention member 1300provides a glare-free opening for observation by the test proctor ofstudent work. Additionally, where the first-and-second panel retentionmember 1300 is a transparent panel with a first-and-second panelretention member height 1314 equivalent to a first panel height 1114 awork surface panel may be provided to which the first panel bottom side1112, the second panel bottom side 1212, the first-and-second panelretention member height bottom side 1312 may be affixed to providefurther rigidity and structure.

The non-transparent privacy panel 1400 includes a non-transparentprivacy panel interior side 1406, a non-transparent privacy panel topside 1410, a non-transparent privacy panel bottom side 1412, anon-transparent privacy panel first end 1416 and a non-transparentprivacy panel second side 1418 and has a non-transparent privacy panelheight 1414 and a non-transparent privacy panel width 1420. Thenon-transparent privacy panel width 1420 is equivalent to the thirdpanel width 1320 while the non-transparent privacy panel height 1414 isless than, preferably 5-7 inches less, than the first panel height 1114and/or second panel height 1214. The non-transparent privacy panelheight 1414 is sufficiently less than than the first panel height 1114and/or second panel height 1214 to block the student's view of the testproctor and of any student work on the other side of the non-transparentprivacy panel 1400 while sufficiently high to permit observation of thestudent's work.

A non-transparent privacy panel retention device 1500 is provided inconnection with the assembled first panel 1100, second panel 1200 andfirst-and-second panel retention member 1300, to retain thenon-transparent privacy panel 1400 adjacent, or within, rear panel 1300,such that the non-transparent privacy panel top side 1410 may be alignedwith, or proximate to the first panel top side 1110 and/or the secondpanel top side 1210. The non-transparent privacy panel retention device1500 may be a set of hooks, such as depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2, or aledge affixed to the non-transparent privacy panel 1400 to engage thetop side 1310 of the first-and-second panel retention member 1300, suchas depicted in FIGS. 3 and 4, or in FIG. 6, or the first panel top side1110 and/or the second panel top side 1210. Alternatively, thenon-transparent privacy panel retention device 1500 may be a shelfaffixed to the first-and-second panel retention member interior side1306. In another alternative, the non-transparent privacy panelretention device 1500 may be a set of brackets or hangers, such asillustrated in FIG. 7. Where the first-and-second panel retention member1300 is a transparent panel, the non-transparent privacy panel retentiondevice 1500 may comprise an interior sleeve 1510 into which thenon-transparent privacy panel 1400 may be deposited, such as illustratedin FIG. 5.

Thus, in operation, the instructor may view all students prior toengagement of the non-transparent privacy panel 1400. Thereafter, thestudents may engage the non-transparent privacy panel 1400 to precludeany vision by students of those in front of them, while permitting thetest proctor to view the work of the students.

Referring to FIG. 6, in a further embodiment, the educational carrel1000 may further include a work platform 6102 on which the first panel1100 and second panel 1200 are adjacent and to which the first panel1100 and second panel 1200 may be affixed so as to provide an integralwhole. The first-and-second panel retention member 1300 may comprise arear panel which does not extend to the first panel bottom side 1112which maintains the positions of the first panel 1100 and second panel1200. The non-transparent privacy panel retention device 1500 maycomprise a pair of open-topped hangers or brackets affixed at the firstpanel interior side 1106 and the second panel interior side 1206 nearthe first panel rear side 1104 and the second panel rear side 1204,respectively, proximate to the first panel top side 1110 and the secondpanel top side 1210, respectively, thereby capturing the non-transparentprivacy panel 1400 and retaining it in position.

Referring to FIG. 7, the first-and-second panel retention member 1300may comprise a wide u-shaped bracket which maintains the positions ofthe first panel 1100 and second panel 1200. The non-transparent privacypanel retention device 1500 may comprise a pair of open-topped hangersor brackets affixed at the first panel interior side 1106 and the secondpanel interior side 1206 near the first panel rear side 1104 and thesecond panel rear side 1204, respectively, proximate to the first paneltop side 1110 and the second panel top side 1210, respectively, therebycapturing the non-transparent privacy panel 1400 and retaining it inposition. As can be appreciated, multiple educational carrels 1000 maybe affixed to a single work surface 6102.

While the present disclosure has been described in connection withpresently preferred embodiments, it will be understood by those skilledin the art that it is not intended to limit the disclosure to thoseembodiments. It is therefore, contemplated that various alternativeembodiments and modifications may be made to the disclosed embodimentswithout departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure defined bythe appended claims and equivalents thereof.

I claim:
 1. An carrel for education purposes, comprising: anon-transparent first panel, said non-transparent first panel havingfirst panel height, first panel depth, and a first panel rear edge; anon-transparent second panel, said non-transparent second panel havingsecond panel height, second panel depth, and a second panel rear edgesaid second panel height equivalent to said first panel height; saidsecond panel depth equivalent to said first panel depth; afirst-and-second panel retention member, said first-and-second panelretention member affixed substantially perpendicular to saidnon-transparent first panel near said first panel rear edge, said firstpanel extending forwardly from said first-and-second panel retentionmember, said first-and-second panel retention member affixedsubstantially perpendicular to said non-transparent second panel nearsaid second panel rear edge, said second panel extending forwardly fromsaid first-and-second panel retention member, said first-and-secondpanel retention member separating said non-transparent first panel andsaid non-transparent second panel by a separation width; anon-transparent privacy panel, said non-transparent privacy panel havinga non-transparent privacy panel width and a non-transparent privacypanel height said non-transparent privacy panel width equivalent to saidseparation width. said non-transparent privacy panel height no more than⅔ said first panel height and no less than ½ said first panel height. aprivacy panel retention member, said privacy panel retention memberaffixed to said non-transparent privacy panel or to saidfirst-and-second panel retention member or to said first panel and saidsecond panel and providing detachable attachment of said non-transparentprivacy panel to said first-and-second panel retention member or to saidfirst panel and said second panel or to said non-transparent privacypanel.
 2. The carrel of claim 1, wherein said first-and-second panelretention member comprises a transparent panel.
 3. The carrel of claim2, wherein said a transparent panel having a transparent panel height,said transparent panel height equivalent to said first panel height;said transparent panel having a transparent panel top side; said firstpanel having a first panel top side; said transparent panel top sidealigned with said first panel top side.
 4. The carrel of claim 2,wherein said transparent panel having a transparent panel height, saidtransparent panel height not more than ⅔ of said first panel height andnot less than ⅓ of said first panel height; said transparent panelhaving a transparent panel top side; said first panel having a firstpanel top side; said transparent panel top side aligned with said firstpanel top side.
 5. The carrel of claim 4, wherein said privacy panelretention member is retained in position with regard to saidfirst-and-second panel retention member with a hook affixed to saidprivacy panel retention member.
 6. The carrel of claim 4, wherein saidprivacy panel retention member is retained in position with regard tosaid first-and-second panel retention member with a bracket affixed tosaid first panel and a bracket affixed to said second panel.
 7. Thecarrel of claim 1, further comprising a horizontally-aligned panel; saidhorizontally-aligned panel having a horizontally-aligned panel width anda horizontally-aligned panel depth; said horizontally-aligned panelwidth being sufficient to support said first panel and said secondpanel; horizontally-aligned panel depth being sufficient to support saidfirst panel and said second panel; a leg downwardly dependent from saidhorizontally-aligned panel.
 8. The carrel of claim 7, wherein saidfirst-and-second panel retention member comprises a transparent panel.9. The carrel of claim 8, wherein said a transparent panel having atransparent panel height, said transparent panel height equivalent tosaid first panel height; said transparent panel having a transparentpanel top side; said first panel having a first panel top side; saidtransparent panel top side aligned with said first panel top side. 10.The carrel of claim 8, wherein said a transparent panel having atransparent panel height, said transparent panel height not more than ⅔of said first panel height and not less than ⅓ of said first panelheight; said transparent panel having a transparent panel top side; saidfirst panel having a first panel top side; said transparent panel topside aligned with said first panel top side.
 11. The carrel of claim 10,wherein said privacy panel retention member is retained in position withregard to said first-and-second panel retention member with a hookaffixed to said privacy panel retention member.
 12. The carrel of claim10, wherein said privacy panel retention member is retained in positionwith regard to said first-and-second panel retention member with abracket affixed to said first panel and a bracket affixed to said secondpanel.